The Mets have officially scratched ace Jacob deGrom from today’s scheduled Grapefruit League appearance, tweets Mike Puma of the New York Post. He’ll instead undergo an MRI after experiencing tightness in his right shoulder while playing catch yesterday. While there’s no indication yet that deGrom is dealing with a major injury or expected to miss significant time, the mere fact that he’s been scratched in favor of imaging is an obvious source of concern.
Expected to pair with newly signed Max Scherzer to form one of the great one-two punches, the 33-year-old deGrom has already cemented himself as one of the most talented pitchers of this generation. If he does miss time with this shoulder ailment, however, it’ll mark a second straight season with an absence due to arm-related injuries.
In 2021, deGrom appeared well on his way to a third Cy Young in four years, pitching to an inhuman 1.08 ERA with a 45.1% strikeout rate against just a 3.4% walk rate through his first 92 innings. He hit the injured list with a forearm strain in early July, however. The injury wasn’t initially believed to be season-ending in nature, but after a series of setbacks and delays in his rehab work, the Mets eventually shut deGrom down for the season in late September.
For the time being, the Mets will send non-roster righty Felix Pena to the hill to make today’s spring start. Manager Buck Showalter is currently speaking with reporters on the matter and indicated that deGrom’s MRI will be conducted around 9:30am ET (Twitter link via Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News). No determination on deGrom’s availability for Opening Day will be made until that imaging is performed. DeGrom felt the tightness in his shoulder on the final few throws of a long-toss session yesterday, Showalter added.
The Mets are relying on deGrom, Scherzer, trade acquisition Chris Bassitt, Taijuan Walker and Carlos Carrasco to handle the bulk of rotation work this season, though they have several solid depth options beyond that quintet. Tylor Megill, David Peterson and Jordan Yamamoto are all on the 40-man roster already, while veteran southpaw Mike Montgomery gives them another experienced option who’s in camp as a non-roster invitee.
Another gut punch.
No one knows but with how much money in his next deal being at stake, I think it’s a situation where the ability to insure himself is not like in the past and he’s taking every precaution until that new deal is done. The problem if that’s the case is not even Cohen will give him $40m per without him proving he’s healthy
I think he’ll be just fine if he doesn’t get $40MM per. Life goes on.
When you’re that good ego is part of the reason most of the time and he just saw Scherzer get paid.
Just write another check. It doesnt matter.
Iverbure gonna be rich this year pounding the under on the Mets wins this year.
Or broke when the rotation is relatively healthy and on top of its game after this preseason injury heals…
Phemon you were saying?
Not good. deGrom is a great pitcher but he fell in love with throwing over 100mph. Might have done some damage. Don’t get me wrong I love hard throwers but cranking it up in your early 30’s might not have been a wise choice.
Imagine his career numbers if he was ever healthy? Real question is if he is hurt a lot this season what does a contract look like? He’s a liability at this point and a terrible investment to make long term
For the sake of the game, this sucks
He’s your perfect high-risk, high-reward candidate.
That’s the million dollar question.
This is why I picked Atlanta to win the division. Mets can’t stay healthy and always find a way to screw up a season. Braves are solid all the way around and people forget they won the WS last season. Just because you “win the offseason” doesn’t mean you’ll do anything. For example—the padres
“people forget”? –jeez, it just happened a few months ago, dunno how many fans actually forgot that already…
reminds me of Trump’s line “people forget Abe Lincoln was a Republican.” –no man, only you forget that.
People forgot the Braves won the WS last year. No I don’t believe many have scratched there head wondering who took it home last year….
I think he’s saying that they forget when they pick the Mets to win the NLE for example, just because they signed a couple of people. Not literally forgot.
The biggest one they signed, is pretty mediocre against Atlanta as well.
So those picking NY to win the East are forgetting Atlanta just won the division and is still a strong, if not stronger team in ’22 than ’21.
To be the best you gotta beat the best, and NY didn’t win the season series against Atlanta in ’21, ’20, ’19 or ’18. I stopped looking after ’18
Wow, Trump still lives in your head rent free. This is a baseball article that has nothing to do with politics.
Exactly someone sounds triggered
I guarantee you if you asked most people in the US what party Abe Lincoln was in, most of them would say democrat just saying.
Exactly.
I would have guessed studio 54 for Abe’s party….
I’ve actually had that conversation with people about Lincoln before and many people do incorrectly assume he was a Democrat candidate/president.
On what do you base your guarantee? Has there been some study of this that you’re aware of? I’d be interested in reading it if you can steer me toward it.
That’s the $35 million dollar question.
Last year was the first season he missed time.
He missed time in 2016 (12 days), 2018 (8 days) and 2019 (11 days), all from elbow issues.
His career numbers would pretty much be exactly the same with the exception of he’d have a full year last year. As a Mets fan, I’m curious as to how he’s portrayed to other fanbases. Or do people really only remember one year at a time? There’s only been one other year in his career that he’s missed more than a random start here or there, and even that year he only missed like 6. With the exception of last year, he’s been as reliable as any pitcher in the game since he got called up.
Here we go again!!
Mets season over before it even starts
TJS time
Potentially even worse than TJS. While TJS is never good news for a pitcher, it’s still much better than if they have to start cutting into his shoulder. Labrums and rotator cuffs are still more worrisome.
As someone who has constant shoulder tightness and pain, I hope deGOAT is ok
Isn’t that for elbows, not shoulders?
Or it is underwear? Tommy John underwear costs about the same as Tommy John surgery.
TJS would be an interesting choice, since it’s his shoulder not his elbow.
Uh oh!
And the plague of injuries for the Mets begins again.
It doesn’t stop!!!!! You never have enough pitching
And this is exactly why everyone think that the Mets are gonna win this division should think again. Their top 2 pitchers are multiple arm injuries waiting to happen.
Truth. Everyone saw this coming. No way degrom and scherzer stay healthy all season. It would be a surprise if together they put up the innings of one pitcher.
Does Scherzer have some injury history I am unaware of? He seems like one of the most durable starters this side of Mark Buerhle.
Scherzer is at that age where injury is always a worry
Agree. It would be more shocking if Degrom was able to stay healthy. He is fragile.
“Everyone saw this coming.”
Well, I didn’t.
This ain’t it, bro.
There will be plenty of opportunities to take a shot at Mets fans this season. Potential injuries aren’t a very classy place to stick your flag in the ground. Yikes.
Pointing out that injury-prone guys are in fact prone to injuries is not off limits. It’s being realistic. And yes, there will be plenty of other times to point and laugh at the Mets. I look forward to taking advantage of each of them.
When and where has anybody wished injuries on these guys… It’s just the reality that some players are injury prone and one that has to be considered when building a roster.. Not considering these factors is how the Mets end up in the same position every year.
Ken bro, he wasn’t gloating. Why do you call us losers? You seem like a sad angry man who is just generally unpleasant to be around. Not because you don’t like people but because your character I can safely assume is crap with calling for players to get injured. Back to the losers comment. Who won the World Series baby? The complete opposite of being a loser. It’s called Champs. That’s what the Braves did. The Mets however finished 3rd. The Phillies finished better. Hell even the Reds finished with a better record than the Mets but can we talk about the massive difference of budgets. Must be sad that the Reds are better team with only 1/3 the budget. Talking about backwoods living and scream at a mirror. Want to make sure you don’t live in NY and are mugging people. Just like you, unpleasant.
Hey Ken – you might want to avoid baseball news for a bit. Scherzer has a hamstring issue now…
No offense when your talking the amount of dough DeGrom nothing is off limits
Isn’t every team arm injuries away from issues?
The Cubs aren’t. They will suck this year if their pitchers stay healthy.
Ken, maybe you should cry a little more
Not concerned…yet. These things are usually cautionary, just to make sure there is no damage.
But I thought Cohen’s money was supposed to prevent this?
The money just means that the Mets can pay for more players.
So it begins.
Man this reminds me of Cliff Lee all over again. I’m not equating Lee to deGrom. I’m just saying we have an amazing talent, but the injuries are piling up quick. I hate the Mets and I don’t want to see them succeed, but I definitely hope deGrom is healthy. He’s the best in the game currently. It would be a shame to see him miss significant time again, but if this MRI shows some bad news, his amazing career may be over way too early.
Agree completely. When the Phillies play the Mets, I want the Phils to pound them at full strength.
Cliff Lee was an all world pitcher. No shame in comparing him to anyone. Dude was filthy in the postseason as well
April Fools!!!!
It must be baseball season
Big blow to my Mets dynasty prediction. Time for the Mets to trade for all the aces of each team. Make the bullpen all ace starters.
Hopefully just standard ST soreness/tightness. He has been healthy most of his career up until last season. He is 34 though and few pitchers not named Nolan Ryan can maintain max effort on every pitch as they age.
So its not the worst April fools joke
Slow news day, folks. It’s precautionary.
It is precautionary, but at this point, we’ve seen this story often. Injuries piling up quick on a talented pitcher who throws way too hard. Not to be a Negative Nellie, but even if deGrom is okay after this MRI, it’s fair to question his health in the longterm.
He is also having an MRI. That is not an automatic when a pitcher has soreness or tightness. They’ll often try rest first unless there’s a higher level of concern. My guess is the proximity to the start of the season and his recent history is promoting them to move to an MRI.
They did try rest. He rested for a day. It’s just precautionary. Nothing to see yet.
.
Nothing to see yet an MRI is ordered. The team and it’s medical staff must feel there might indeed be something to see……
Of course an MRI is ordered. That way they can see if there’s anything to see
How hard is TOO hard? Let us know so they won’t do that no more!
I don’t mean too hard in the sense that he’s doing anything wrong. I just mean he does something most humans cannot do. There’s going to be a physical cost.
If not a question of IF, but WHEN with deGrom. The “it’s precautionary” thing is said from fans rocking hysterically and choosing not to remember the last 2 years of this. He may be fine, come back and pitching a handful of unbelievable IPs throwing 102 mph to quell the peanut gallery, only for it reemerge again.
Save this headline, MLBTR — it’ll be used again.
Still gonna miss several weeks just to calm it down if it’s nothing structural.
Doesn’t matter who it is or what team – it ALWAYS starts as “just precautionary” and goes downhill from there.
Tomorrow: Degrom shut down for 6 weeks.
Close. Scapula strain and to be re-evaluated in four weeks
While it is, it is also close to OD.
So much for that dismissive denial
Stress fracture. At minimum more than a month out, and quite likely a June or later debut on the season.
deGrom was planning to opt out at the end of the season. But what kind of contract can he get at this point? Staying with the Mets for 2023 and 2024 would net him another $63 million. Does he bet on his health and walk?
Can’t answer that until the season is done. He said he’s opting out, but he won’t be opting out if his shoulder is toast. If this is just standard soreness, and he has a very good season, he’ll easily eclipse $63MM.
Maybe Bassit can talk he Mets into trading for Montas or Manaea. Desperate times call
For desperate measures. They are no replacement for a Degrom obviously, but they are way more reliable than a Megill is. It’ll cost you a Baty though.
If deGrom is seriously injured, which is a big if, I fully expect Dom Smith and/or JD Davis to be part of a package (along with prospects) to Oakland. Cohen is not going into this season with a shortened SP staff.
I dont think Oakland would want those two. They want younger more controllable guys. They have essentially punted this season and probably the next.
@Rsk3228 Yeah. You’re right. I think Smith would just be a piece, but not the headliner. This would cost the Mets prospects.
@ VonPurpleHayes;
The Mets have traded off most of their quality prospects.
Mr. Cohen is falling into a trap. NYC fans are encouraging him. This is all they know – spend spend, spend. Doesn’t work anymore….hasn’t for quite a while.
This statement makes clear you know nothing of the Mets farm system. Go crawl back into your trailer and hug your stuffed Acuna doll.
I can see Dom Smith having value to the A’s, but not Davis.
A’s are paying Jed Lowrie $850K (+ incentives) for utility 1B/2B/DH this year.
Because he plays just great when the Wilpons aren’t keeping him from getting needed surgery.
If Megill, Peterson, etc are a part of the Mets rotation for any length of time this season, the team is in serious trouble
#LOLMets
Na, #LOLMets is a good one.
I would agree, except I hate to see the best players in baseball unable to play, whichever team they’re with.
Ken, you’re flooding the board. Not with comments, but tears.
I saw somewhere that a sports book put the over/under for combined Degrom/Scherzer starts at 44.5.
Mets need to get another starter and look seriously at least an occasional 6 man rotation.
The goal needs to be to get to the postseason as healthy as possible, not to win the division.
@ jakec77;
The Mets have one of the oldest teams in MLB. Injuries happen. Older players get injured more often and when they do it takes them longer to heal.
How exactly do they get to the post-season, and get there healthy?
By playing the older players less.
Hence, the 6 man rotation.
(As an aside- I’ve often wondered why teams didn’t allow starting pitchers who are not going to pitch to miss some road trips. Yes, every once in a great while you might use them as a pinch hitter or runner, and I suppose there is something to be said for clubhouse chemistry, but I really believe a significant amount of the wear and tear of baseball is not so much the game itself but the constant travel.)
@ jakec77;
You’re onto something. But where exactly do the Mets get 6 starting pitchers from when there is already a shortage of starting pitchers in MLB?
The Rays are the trendsetters here. Have 13 pitchers on your ML roster, and another 5-7 in the high minors that can be called up. Only 3 or so on the ML roster may be considered starters, and they may pitch 5 innings at most. The rest of the guys you pitch 1-3 innings, rotate them depending on the game situation to keep them strong. At the first sign of overwork send the pitcher down to AAA and bring up a fresh arm.
It takes years to accumulate young quality pitchers and put that methodology into place.
I think the Mets only figure to have 3 SPs with a positive ERA+.
I think the issue is one of structure. If you have 6 SPs, and all 6 are #3 SPs, then I think going with 6 SPs can work.
If you have 6 SPs, and three Scherzer, DeGrom & Bassitt with say a 3.25 ERA, and you are replacing him with a guy with a 6.00 ERA, then you are definitely losing extra games. If you’re Atlanta, you can afford to lose a couple more games. If you are fighting for a playoff spot, then you are trading off more post-season success with less regular-season success.
Scherzer has averaged 30+ in the last 12 full seasons, so that would leave deGrom at only about 12-15 GS or a half season. Seems about right.
Not good, even as a Braves fan this sucks. Dude is special when healthy. Hope it’s nothing serious.
As a noted philosopher once stated, “Ruh-roh, Shaggy.”
Jesus Christmass. I hate to say it but the Mets need to land one more SP. this is like a bad dream, a Johan Santana 2.0
Lol Mets
He could’ve been 9 months into recovery by now
Recovery from what? He has been recovering from last years injury. What surgury would you have recommended, doctor?
Woooo “Doctor” settle down little buddy it’s not that serious.
Germ, you made a dumb comment and someone called you out. Shut your mouf
He had a forearm strain last season and this is a shoulder issue. How would surgery on his forearm help his shoulder now?
Amazin’
It’s not just deGrom and it’s not just Max….
As I wrote the other day and got roasted for it – the Mets are an old team.
MLB – like all pro sports – is “A Young Man’s Game”. Fact is that most MLB players peak around age 28. You can’t build a team by signing FA’s that are in their 30’s…and 40’s (nothing wrong with adding one or two).
Just like the Yankees – get a bunch of old guys, then say the team would have won that year but the injuries. Next year it’ll be different.
Mr. Cohen is trading off the young players in his farm system to win now. He’d best do a 180, build up that farm system and get a young core in place.
I’ve said that before. 1-2 FAs, fine. 1-2 older guys, fine.
But they signed Canha, Escobar,Marte and Scherzer, and those guys average 34 years of age. Bassitt is 33. Ottavino is 36. They’ve poured an enormous amount of resources into what looks like a one-year window. If DeGrom is really hurt, I think they are an underdog to make the playoffs, and the team goes downhill from here.
28 is the beginning of a players peak, generally. 27-32 is generally peak. Folks tend to overstate the doom of adding a 30 year old.
It’s all relative to the contract. I wouldn’t mind, for example, extending Bogaerts for 6 seasons. I know age 35 won’t be worth it, but we hopefully make up for it with his ages 30-33 seasons. But the Mets added 4 regulars that are past that 32 cutoff.
They have Marte for four years, He’s already marginal for CF.
Players performance does not suddenly drop off a cliff once they turn 30. It just starts a gradual decline.
Position players begin to decline after age 30. An average of 7% per season on offense as measured by OPS and OPS+. Time spent on the IL increases by about the same percentage per season.
Starting pitchers begin to decline in performance after their age 31 season. The decline in ERA is not as straight line as position players as some pitchers learn to pitch through the decline in velocity. There is still a definite drop off starting at their age 32 seasons.
There are exceptions to every rule and this is no exception. It is the averages. There have been many super star veteran players that have maintained performance well into their 30s.
Position players peak between their age 27 and age 30 seasons, starting pitchers between 28-31.
Nothing wrong with adding exceptional veterans over 30. You just have to expect that they will decline each year.
I am sure most fans would still rather watch a declining Scherzer or deGrom than a Cole Irvin or German Marquez.
Agree.
I said above that it starts @ 28 for most players. That’s from studies I’ve read. But as you all noted, that doesn’t mean they immediately fall off a cliff. The decline is usually slow, and if the player functions smartly in game situations as he’s learned to do based on experience, that decline may not even be noticeable.
In this regime, they haven’t traded anyone other than Ginn. What are you talking about, dopey?
That would be the dumbest thing possible. Good luck getting teams to take on the fat new contracts. Good thing you’re not in charge of the mets.
I’m a Braves fan and this still bums me out:(
Too many hard miles on the odometer.
Somehow Carrasco is being counted on too. Good luck with that.
Didn’t think they had much of a chance to win the division before…almost no chance now. Pitching staff is way too old, injury prone and top heavy. Depending on 4 starters who are each very unlikely to make 30 starts this year. They’re toast. Braves, Phillies and even Marlins just have too much more overall depth and youth. Hell, the Marlins could lose their entire rotation tomorrow and still send out 5 other guys with top of the rotation stuff the next day.
Next we’ll get a Nightengale tweet suggesting the Padres are entertaining OF offers from Mets for Lamet
Although I don’t necessarily disagree with you about the mets rotation, I will say I think you are majorly overestimating the Braves and Phillies rotation. The Braves also have 4 starters who are unlikely to make 30 starts this year. Like the Mets, their most reliable one is 38 years old. The Phillies also have major question marks. We can’t just ignore the fact that Wheeler has had health concerns his entire career. He’s missed significantly more time due to injuries than deGrom has. As has Eflin, and we still have yet to see how Suarez handles a full season as a starter. Their only sure options are Nola, and Gibson (if you want to call that a positive with him) Again, the issues you brought up with the Mets are totally valid, but I don’t think any of these rotations are as stacked or reliable as you think they are once you look deeper into it. The Braves are definitely in the best spot, cause they can afford to pull pitchers early with that bullpen. The counter to that is, unless the Phillies made some offseason moves (besides getting Familia which only helps the point), They will probably have to push their starters more.
@StevieMarks The distinction here is that the Mets are built around their rotation. The Braves have depth everywhere. The Phillies are built on hitting dingers. So I do think it’s fair to say if the Mets get a serious injury from 1 of their big 3 starters, they’re in more trouble than the Phillies and Braves would be in that same scenario.
Exactly my point Von. All those teams I mentioned have depth within their areas of strength. Phillies could lose a bat or two and they’ll still hit. The Braves can lose an arm or two and their bullpen can still shut games down. Marlins can lose a starter and they can just call another kid up who throws triple digits. The Mets lose a starter and they’re toast. The rotation is their area of strength and they have no depth there. And I point this out because it’s the same exact issue that has been biting the Mets for years now and still remarkably remains unfixed.
Baseball could use a healthy deGrom right now. Hopefully, the MRI is precautionary and comes back clean.
Hello Johnny Cueto
If he’s willing to take a minimum deal so the Mets avoid the top tier of penalties, sure.
I never begrudge pitchers looking for long term contracts. Every one of them knows how vulnerable they are at any moment. deGrom threw over 600 innings between 2017-2019,
Ask Nolan what he thinks of a Pitcher needing 3 full seasons to get to 600 innings. Wimps!
True, but times are unquestionably different. Putting Ryan aside as a freak of nature, most starters were expected to pace themselves and finish games, instead of throwing max all the time. We haven’t had a 300IP season since 1980.
It’s the endless foul balls…..
Pitchers have to do more and more unnatural things to get additional movement on the ball in order to get Strike 3.
Nor would Nolan Ryan be excited about a ‘workhorse’ averaging only 6 1/3 innings per start. Change always isn’t for the good.
Just goes to show that the human arm is not built to withstand the rigors of throwing a baseball repeatedly and as hard as possible over long stretches of time. Such a shame. And it’s ironic that ever since the 5 man rotations and pitch counts started, it seems pitcher injuries have risen, as opposed to declining.
Guess will be rethinking that opt out at end of season now… lol
Mets fans have seen this movie before with multiple starters. Starts with a precaution, MR taken. Nothing found wrong, Misses next start. Declared ready to go. Makes next start and pitches well, After the game, tightness is reported. Goes on DL to “rest”. No timetable to return and subsequently a season ending injury is announced. I hope this not the case as he is a joy to watch pitch.
Granted this is all anecdotal, but deGrom’s insistence on throwing 100 miles an hour last year in every start with his fastball usage sitting at over 60% of his pitch total per start may ultimately be his undoing.
I guess it’s a plus that it’s not his forearm. Hope it’s just a blip and he gets back out there soon!
Pitching is, arguably, the most unnatural act in sports. Throwing a ball as hard as you can 100 times every five days? Inevitable harm. I hope he’s cleared to resume playing, MLB needs deGrom. Live at 95-97mph, ramp-up as needed – too many pitcher injuries. No way I sign a pitcher long term at big dollars.
He’s starting to turn into Kershaw, can’t stay healthy
… interesting point, Tdat.
They are about the same age. Kershaw has far more miles on his arm than deGrom and is also a power Pitcher compared to deGrom’s more finesse. But age is catching up to both
Not really sure that I’d classify the starter who has the highest average fastball and slider velocity in the majors as a finesse pitcher. I guess you can call him a finesse pitcher cause he has control over his pitches like a finesse pitcher would.
The Mets are royally overhyped yet again. Everyone outside of Mets fandom could of seen this coming.
You’ve got two great pitchers headlining the rotation no doubt. Problem is one of them is Jacob Degrom and the other is turning 38 this year.
Noone in a big league clubhouse fears the Mets.
No one in Atlanta, maybe. They’re all too busy with their lunch mobs and such.
99socalfrc Don’t lump all Mets fans thinking the same.
I saw this coming a mile away; a lot of people did
Secondly as far as some Mets fans being ##### insert name here if it bothers people that much I feel for you when you have a choice to read or not; mute or not; follow or not?
As far as Max goes; pitchers pitching late into post season with high leverage innings normally do not do well the next year especially at 38 could get ugly
The writing for this has been on the wall for a while. It’s all the spin these guys are trying to put on the ball. It works incredibly well but comes at a massive cost.
I think Scherzer’s arm is shot, too. Once an arm injury begins, it’s all downhill from there until nearly 2 years after surgery (plus a 20% chance there is no return ever from surgery).
Mets have major issues.
That deGrom/Scherzer one-two punch doesn’t work without deGrom. Hopefully it’s nothing.
As insufferable as some Mets fans here are its better for Baseball if players like deGrom are healthy, especially when the season is about to start
Hopefully just precautionary, and likely is, but it does indicate a higher level of concern when a team requests an MRI. While deGrom doesn’t pitch for my favorite team, I do love watching him pitch as a baseball fan. Hopefully that will happen many times this summer.
Here it starts , not a Mets fan but I do like watching him pitch.
I hope degrom is ok. Im a die hard Yankees fan but baseball is more fun when the best are out there . I hope degrom comes back strong and trout has an injury free season . Would be an awesome season of both of them are healthy
This dude can not catch a break. The Mets will be trading for a SP soon.
As a long time Mets fan and not a pessimistic one maybe the engineer in me not that you need to be one but I saw this coming and when everyone raved about the off-season I did not think even with DeGrom that made them the best team in the division.
Rotation was very weak and questionable after Basset and I think the “cookie” has crumbled as far as Carrasco goes and I was hoping they would pick up a relatively cheap depth piece in Tyler Anderson but the Dodgers were smart to scoop him up.
They will finish this year again in 3rd to 4rth place; don’t expect more Mets fans.
Should have tried to communicate more with Thor who is with the Angels now which is my other team since I live out here for 12 years and walk to the park; doesn’t conflict.
And what more can you say about Cano; that experiment will fail when the Phillies can now MASH the ball.
A sports writer once quoted poet John Greenleaf Whittier when describing the career of Mickey Mantle…with all his injuries early on.
…. “For all sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these, “It might have been….”
No words could be truer for the career of Degrom….if this injury turns out to be bad news.
I think when asking how great an athlete is, especially a pitcher ……it really comes down to one question……if it was the 7th game of the World Series, what pitcher would you want on the mound above anyone else…..
In my opinion, whoever you choose is who YOU think is the greatest pitcher.
In my opinion, it would be Jacob Degrom…hands down!
Besides his skill set, he’s just a good guy…in. a business of greed . He’s Jeter, David Wright, seemingly Aaron Judge, and others….all rolled up into one…..class act
Some people might say he’s only won 77 games in an 8-year career ( so far)…so how could he be the BEST? I actually heard somebody say that…
My answer would be just watch him pitch !
Hopefully, this injury will be just that….an injury. And nothing serious ….so we can continue to watch him pitch more…..and those words by Whittier will not wind up defining this gentleman and artist
@ yankee766766;
Sandy Koufax and Herb Score were the greatest pitchers I ever saw.
Sandy got in 7 good years, 5 were totally dominating. His arm went out and he had to retire at age 31.
Herb came up at age 22 and immediately dominated for 2 years. He was Sandy before Sandy was Sandy. At the beginning of his 3rd year he was hit in the face / eye by a line drive off the bat of Gil McDougald. Had bad vision for a while. That cleared up. But he made the mistake of modifying his delivery to make up for his loss of balance as the eye was healing. That led to injuries and while he stuck around for 6 more years as teams tried to restart his dominating ability, he finally had to retire at age 29.
So if deGrom is headed downhill, he’s not unique in MLB history.
Never said Degrom was “unique” in this matter. The thread is and was about Degrom. Perhaps if someone, like yourself, started a thread on Herb Score and arguably the greatest pitcher of all time ( Koufax)….we can all agree to agree that there are others that can be mentioned in a similar fashion. Yes I saw both of them pitch
****.
This sucks. Best pitcher in the game. If shoulder surgery is in the offing, it looks pretty rough as it is JDG’s age 34 season and he would be looking at a comeback at age 35 (or even later) after having missed nearly two seasons.
Jumping the gun. It’s tightness. Not pain.
Yes, thats always the prelude comment prior to much worse comments coming out after the exam….brace yourselves Mets fans…..at 34-35, this guy may not be 200 inning rock he was 3 seasons ago which not only puts immense pressure on Scherzer, but the rest of the pitching staff including the relief corps if they pitch DeGrom 5-6 every start to save his arm.
Jeff Passan:
“ New York Mets right-hander Jacob deGrom will miss Opening Day after imaging showed a stress reaction in his right scapula, sources tell ESPN. While the timetable for deGrom’s return is unclear, he’s expected to miss a significant amount of time to start 2022.”
…ugh
There’s nothing done that’s precautionary when dealing with tightness in the throwing shoulder, that’s a flat out nightmare unfolding in front of Met’s fan’s eyes. I’m sure if deGrom goes down for an extended amount of time Cohen will just throw more money at it I mean why not right he’s already thrown all caution to the wind giving Scherzer over $43 million per after we all watched him fold up like a lawn chair in last year’s playoffs. Scherzer didn’t look like a guy that can be trusted to pitch deep into the post season at this point in his career. Then he buys Marte who’s had his bouts with the IL as well averaging around 110 games played a season maybe a tick more if you consider the shortened year of Covid. I guess maybe they’re hoping that between Marte and NImmo they can get a full season. I do however believe that Lindor will get his game back on point this season but will it be enough?
Ehhhhh you don’t know anything until it’s announced and played out. Chill.
Who’s he going to throw money at? What TOR pitchers are available on the free agent market?
It’s always the Mets.
Why can’t we have nice things?
Turn him into a shut down closer. He will literally have a zero Era and 200 K’s for a closer lmaooo
Being a reliever likely puts MORE stress on his arm
That makes zero sense
Yea, I don’t know where Fred is getting that from. It sounds absurd.
laughing my a$s off off off?
Judging from the description of the Mets’ fallback options, they can afford to give deGrom as much time as he needs to heal from this if surgery isn’t indicated. Hopefully, their history of stupid risks with ace pitchers is a thing of the past (I’m thinking Pedro Martinez and Johan Santana).
Most Mets fans seemed overly cocky anyway.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahhaa!!!! The pitching curse continues!
Love a Phillies fan
It’s not nice to laugh about injuries to professional athletes. You might give Philadelphia fans a bad name.